Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund Opens 2026 Grant Cycle
Published on January 21, 2026
County Introduces New Online Application Portal
The Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund has opened the 2026 round of grant applications and announced key dates for prospective applicants.
Please note the following key events and deadlines:
- Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 — Grant Application Workshop (PDF)
- Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 – Online Portal Training Session
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 — Declaration of Intent due
- Friday, March 27, 2026 — Grant Application deadline
The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation will host a virtual Grant Application Workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 7 to 8 p.m. via Webex. The workshop will provide an overview of the application process and address questions regarding project eligibility, prior funding and the county’s new online application portal.
Advance registration is required and available at: https://forms.gle/tRCAWrbo2kJN6un99
Beginning with the 2026 funding round, all grant materials -- including the required Declaration of Intent -- must be submitted through the county’s new online program portal. To assist applicants, a virtual training session on using the portal will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4. Additional details will be provided, and potential applicants will be kept informed as the county implements the new platform.
Religious institutions are eligible to apply during the 2026 funding cycle. In 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Morris County could not issue taxpayer-funded historic preservation grants to religious institutions under the state constitution. In November 2024, a federal court issued a preliminary ruling finding that the exclusion violated the U.S. Constitution. This litigation has since concluded, allowing religious institutions to participate in the program.
Since its inception in 2003, the Historic Preservation Trust Fund has awarded more than $56 million to preserve and rehabilitate 136 historic sites and resources throughout Morris County. The program was established following overwhelming voter approval of a dedicated historic preservation trust fund.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, qualified nonprofit organizations and Morris County. Projects must involve historic resources listed on, or certified eligible for listing on, the state or National Register of Historic Places.
Additional information and updates are available on the Historic Preservation Trust Fund grant application webpage.
For questions, contact Ray Chang, Morris County historic preservation program coordinator, at rchang@co.morris.nj.us or call 973-829-8138.
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Photo 1: The Sisters of Charity Dairy Barn in Florham Park, funded in 2025.
Photo 2: Former lock tender’s house in Roxbury Township, photo taken in 1898. This project was supported with historic preservation trust fund grants in 2025.